Interior, Collegiate Church of Saint Gertrude, Nivelles, Belgium 1040

This is an image of the interior of the Collegiate Church of Saint Gertrude, built in Nivelles, Belgium, during the Romanesque period, sometime between 1000 and 1250. The Romanesque style, with its rounded arches and massive stone construction, carries echoes of Roman imperial architecture, but also reflects the particular social conditions of the medieval era, as Europe began to recover from the Dark Ages. The church was more than a place of worship, it was a social and cultural hub, a place of pilgrimage, and a symbol of the community’s faith and aspirations. The sheer scale of the building project reflects the power of the church as an institution, and the resources it could command. To understand such a building, we need to look at historical documents, architectural plans, and archaeological findings. By considering the social and institutional history, we can reveal the rich layers of meaning embedded in its design and construction.